Damper with monolithic base

1. A damper comprising:

a damper tube extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an open second end;

a piston assembly disposed within and slidably engaging said damper tube;

a piston rod extending along said longitudinal axis between a proximal end that is attached to said piston assembly and a distal end that extends outwardly from said first end of said damper tube;

a monolithic base positioned at said second end of said damper tube, said monolithic base including a closed end, an open end, a base portion at said closed end, and a wall portion extending longitudinally between said closed end and said open end;

said base portion of said monolithic base being joined to and sealing said second end of said damper tube;

said base portion including a concave depression that tapers inwardly from a base portion perimeter to a cup bottom;

said concave depression extending in a first longitudinal direction relative to said base portion perimeter to define a depth of said concave depression; and

said wall portion extending in said first longitudinal direction from said base portion perimeter to said open end such that said cup bottom is positioned between opposing sides of said wall portion.

2. The damper as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said monolithic base includes a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes in said opposing sides of said wall portion, said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes having a cylindrical shape and extending inwardly from said opposing sides of said wall portion to internal ends.

3. The damper as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said internal ends of said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes are laterally spaced apart from one another.

4. The damper as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said monolithic base includes an uninterrupted cavity, positioned laterally between said opposing sides of said wall portion, that extends longitudinally between said base portion and said open end.

5. The damper as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said monolithic base includes a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes in said opposing sides of said wall portion and wherein said wall portion of said monolithic base has a tubular shape that extends from said base portion perimeter to said open end.

6. The damper as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said wall portion of said monolithic base includes a sloped region, positioned longitudinally between said base portion perimeter and said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes, that tapers radially inwardly.

7. The damper as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said opposing sides of said wall portion include flat areas adjacent to and surround said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes.

8. The damper as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said concave depression in said base portion has a frustoconical shape that is configured to support a base valve assembly positioned in said second end of said damper tube.

9. The damper as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said base portion perimeter has a circular shape and wherein said damper tube has a cylindrical shape with a circular opening at said second end that mates with said base portion of said monolithic base.

10. The damper as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said monolithic base includes a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes in said opposing sides of said wall portion with said opposing sides of said wall portion of said monolithic base forming a clevis.

11. The damper as set forth in claim 10 , wherein each of said opposing sides of said wall portion of said monolithic base has a sloped region positioned longitudinally between said base portion perimeter and said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes.

12. The damper as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said opposing sides of said wall portion include flat areas adjacent to and surrounding said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes.

13. The damper as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said concave depression in said base portion is a U-shaped trough that is configured to support a base valve assembly positioned in said second end of said damper tube.

14. The damper as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said base portion perimeter has an oval or rectangular shape and wherein said damper tube has a cylindrical shape that transitions to a non-circular opening at said second end that mates with said base portion of said monolithic base.

15. The damper as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said monolithic base includes a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes in said opposing sides of said wall portion and a bushing assembly that is positioned in and supported by said pair of integrally formed fastening eyes to create an attachment loop at said second end of said damper tube.

16. A monolithic base for closing one end of a damper, said monolithic base comprising:

a base portion defining a closed end of the monolithic base;

a wall portion defining an open end of the monolithic base;

said base portion including a concave depression that tapers inwardly from a base portion perimeter to a cup bottom;

said concave depression extending in a first longitudinal direction relative to said base portion perimeter to define a depth of said concave depression;

said wall portion extending in said first longitudinal direction from said base portion perimeter to said open end such that said cup bottom is positioned between opposing sides of said wall portion; and

a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes in said opposing sides of said wall portion.

17. The monolithic base as set forth in claim 16 , further comprising:

an uninterrupted cavity, positioned laterally between said opposing sides of said wall portion, that extends longitudinally between said base portion and said open end.

18. The monolithic base as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said wall portion has a tubular shape that extends from said base portion perimeter to said open end.

19. The monolithic base as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said opposing sides of said wall portion form a clevis.

20. A method of manufacturing a damper, the method comprising the steps of:

deep drawing a flat sheet metal blank into a tube to form a monolithic base having a base portion defined by a closed end of the tube, an open end opposite the closed end of the tube, and a wall portion of tubular shape that extends longitudinally from the base portion to the open end;

deforming the base portion of the monolithic base to create a concave depression that tapers inwardly from a base portion perimeter to a cup bottom such that the cup bottom is positioned between opposing sides of the wall portion;

partially flattening the opposing sides of the wall portion to create flat areas on the opposing sides of the wall portion and a sloped region positioned longitudinally between the base portion perimeter and the flat areas;

punching a pair of integrally formed fastening eyes into the flat areas on the opposing sides of the wall portion to create an attachment loop; and

attaching the base portion of the monolithic base to one end of a damper tube to close that end of the damper tube.